Lesson 31: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Summary Anna wants to go to see a baseball game. The question is: what is the fastest way for her to get there? Her friends Jonathan and Ashley give her advice. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words for this lesson. You can also learn about ​comparative adjectives like "faster," and superlative adjectives like "fastest." Pronunciation Use this video to learn about pronouncing "than" in sentences with comparative adjectives. Conversation   Anna: Hi, there, sports fans! Baseball is America’s sport. Today, I am going to Nationals Park. It is home to Washington, D.C.’s baseball team -- the Washington Nationals! Anna: Hi, Jonathan! Jonathan: Hi, Anna! Where are you going? Anna: I am taking a bus to a Nationals baseball game! Jonathan: Don’t take the bus. A taxi is faster than a bus. Anna: Oh, good idea. You know I love baseball. Jonathan: That’s great. Have fun. Anna: In fact, I wanted to be a baseball player. Jonathan: Is this one of your memories? I’m really busy. Anna: This won’t take long. I can see it now... I am at home plate. I wait for the pitch. The ball comes. I swing. It’s a hit! I run to first base, second base, third base, then home plate. It’s a home run! The crowd cheers! Woo hoo! Jonathan: You really love baseball. Have fun at the game, Anna. Anna: Thanks, Jonathan.Taxi! Ashley: Hi, Anna. Where are you going? Anna: Hi, Ashley. I am going to see a Nationals baseball game! Ashley: What time is the game? Anna: 7 o’clock. Ashley: Do you have a ticket? Anna: No, not yet. Ashley: Anna, you should go a lot earlier than 7 o’clock. Anna: That is why I’m taking a taxi. Taxi! Ashley: Anna, Anna, that’s not a good idea. A bicycle is faster than a taxi. Anna: Oh, Ashley. Ashley, Ashley, Ashley. A car is faster than your bicycle. Ashley: In D.C. traffic sometimes a bicycle is faster than a car. And right now, there is a lot of traffic. Anna: Good point. But I don’t have a bicycle. Ashley: Okay, Anna, you can use my bicycle. Anna: Thanks! I really want to learn how to ride one. Ashley: What do you mean, learn how to ride a bike? Oh, Anna! Anna, Anna! Ashley: You know, Anna, the Metro is faster than a taxi and a bicycle. You ought to take the Metro. It’s that way. Anna: Good idea. Ashley: OK. Anna: See you later! Ashley: Bye, Anna! Anna: Bye! Anna: The Metro was a lot faster than a bus, taxi or bike. And now I’m at Nationals Park! Look at all these fans! So many people like to watch baseball. There’s the ticket window. What? The tickets are sold out? Nooooooo!Nooooooo! But I really want to watch a baseball game. Does anyone have an extra ticket? Fan: Next time, you should buy your ticket online. Anna: Thanks. Thanks a lot. It is good advice. Being early is better than being late. Until next time … Writing Do you like to watch sports? Where do you watch them? Write to tell us about a game you saw. Try to use some of the words from this lesson, like ticket, crowd, fans, and cheer.  Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using comparative and superlative adjectives with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Visualize. Visualize means creating an image in your mind. When learning a new language, we can visualize to help us understand what we are learning. In this week's video, Anna visualizes playing a baseball game. You can also say she imagines playing the game. Jonathan listens and makes an image in his own mind. He understands that Anna loves baseball. He says, "You really love baseball. Have fun at the game, Anna." Do you ever visualize when listening to or reading English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words base - n. any one of the four places a runner must touch in order to score in baseball baseball - n. a game played on a large field by two teams of nine players who try to score runs by hitting a small ball with a long rounded stick and then running to each of the four places a runner must touch in order to score without being put out better - adj. more attractive, appealing, effective or useful bicycle/bike - n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals cheer(s) - v. to shout with joy, approval, or enthusiasm crowd - n. a large group of people who are together in one place earlier -adv. before the usual or expected time extra - adj. more than is usual or necessary fan(s) - n. a person who likes and admires someone, such as a famous person, or something, such as a sport or a sports team, in a very enthusiastic way faster - adv. with great speed hit - v. to cause a ball to move by hitting it forcefully with a bat in baseball; hit - n. when a baseball player is able to successfully swing the bat and connect it with the ball home plate - n. the base that a runner must touch in order to score in baseball home run - n. a hit that allows the batter to go around all the bases and score a run in baseball Nationals Park - n. a baseball park located in Washington, D.C. that is the home ballpark for the Washington Nationals baseball team online - n. done over the Internet pitch - v. to throw a ball to the player who is trying to hit the ball in baseball sell out - v. to be bought until no more are available swing - v. to move your arms while holding the long rounded stick that is used to hit the ball in baseball with a quick, curving motion team - n. a group of people who compete in a sport or game against another group than - conj. used to introduce the second or last of two or more things or people that are being compared — used with the comparative form of an adjective or adverb ticket - n. a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle window - n. an opening in a wall or door that usually contains a sheet of glass ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using comparative adjectives and learn more about baseball. For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus:   Comparatives: faster, earlier Topics:  Making comparisons; Asking for & giving advice Learning Strategy: Visualize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using comparative and superlative adjectives; Pronouncing reduced "than" in comparative sentences ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-31-take-me-out-to-the-ball-game/3535235.html

The Many Ways We Use ‘Of Course’

In the film, “Love, Of Course,” single mother Amy Andolini finds herself alone after sending her daughter to college. But when she gets a job planning the school’s Harvest Festival event, she falls in love with Noah Ferris, a professor. The film title tells us that Amy accepts the idea of falling in love. There are many uses for the expression “of course” in everyday speech. For example, we use it to say “yes” with certainty to requests and some questions. We also use it is to show agreement with or sympathy for a speaker. Most uses are good-natured and polite. But a few can be considered impolite. So, be careful. You would, of course, want to avoid those. On this Everyday Grammar program, I will talk about good and bad uses for the expression “of course.” To answer requests The first we will explore is as an answer to a request for permission. Suppose you are attending a party with a friend. You need to call home but your mobile phone is out of power. Listen to a short exchange: Oh no. My phone just died. Can I use yours? Of course! It’s in my bag near the red chair. Thanks! I’ll only be a minute. When someone asks for permission, and we answer with “Of course,” we are answering with an emphatic “yes.” This is a polite way of using the expression. Other times, a person may wish to confirm information. In this next exchange, listen for the answer “Of course.”        Hey Alice! Are you coming tubing with us Saturday? Of course! And I’m bringing drinks for everyone. Nice! I’ll bring my waterproof radio. You just heard me use “Of course” politely. Pay attention to tone Tone is important for this expression. The wrong tone can change the meaning of “of course” from good to bad. Listen to what happens with a change in tone: Hey Alice! Are you coming tubing with us Saturday? Of course. And I’m bringing drinks for everyone. Oh, ok. Here, the expression sounds unpleasant and feels impolite. The other person may take it to mean, “You should already know the answer.” To answer an offer Another use for “of course” involves answering a polite offer. But is this next exchange a good or bad use of the expression? You decide: Hey, dear. I’m going to the supermarket. Would you like me to bring you anything? Of course. Bring me a bottle of soy milk, please. That’s not a very nice answer to a kind offer. Here, answering “Of course” suggests you think the other person should have magically known the answer. A better answer to a polite offer is either “Yes, please” or “That would be great. Thanks!” Other questions For most other questions, it is best to avoid answering with “Of course.” Such an answer may sound impolite or even strange. For example, suppose someone says, “Your hair looks wonderful. Did you get it cut?” The answer “Of course” is not fitting. Again, it may suggest you expect the other person to be telepathic and read your mind. To show agreement Another use of “of course” is a way of showing interest in and agreement with what someone else is saying, so it is polite. It can also show sympathy for another person. Listen to this exchange between parents: This is the third physics tutor who has not been helpful to my son. Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. And I had talked to a lot people before giving her the job. Of course, you did. But, don’t worry. Maybe I can help you find the right tutor. To show lack of surprise OK, the last use we’ll explore today for “of course” is a way to show that something is not surprising. Unlike the others, this use is not a response. Instead, the speaker uses the expression in his or her own statement. Here is how it might sound: And I forgot to bring my umbrella again so, of course, I got soaked on my way home. It always seems to rain when I have no umbrella! Here, the speaker is showing a lack of surprise at their own forgetfulness. Of course not Now, let’s talk about the term “of course not.” It is the normal negative form of “of course.” We can use it to say “no” in a way that shows we are certain or “yes” to a polite request. Listen to a quick exchange: Did you break this glass? Of course not! Here, the speaker uses “Of course not!” to say very strongly that something is not true. This is only suited to informal situations. But we can also use “of course not” to answer a request. This only works when the request uses the wording “Do you mind…?” or “Would you mind…” Have a listen:        Hi Tesha. Do you mind watching my dog for an hour?        Of course not! You can bring Lando over at 3. In this exchange, use of “Of course not” means, “I don’t mind at all. I would be happy to watch your dog!” Final thought Well, that brings us to our final thought: If you are ever unsure whether to use “of course,” the good news is that you can simply avoid it. There are, of course, many other ways to say what you want to say. I’m Alice Bryant. Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story title – n. the name given to something (such as a book, song, or movie) to identify it certainty – n. the state of being or feeling certain about something polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people emphatic – adj. said or done in a forceful or definite way tubing – n. the activity of riding on an inner tube over snow or down a river tone – n. the quality of a person’s voice telepathic – adj. having the ability to know another person's thoughts without being told what they are tutor – n. a teacher who works with one student soaked – adj. made completely wet by water or another liquid negative – adj. expressing denial or refusal

source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-ways-we-use-of-course-/4857530.html

Why do we feel awkward?

Neil and Dan discuss what awkwardness is and why we feel it.

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p075jn42

American Business English for Beginners #5 - Expressing Your Opinion in English

Learn Business English with EnglishClass101.com! Whether you’ve just started working for an American company or started doing business with one, you’ll need some polished and professional English words and phrases to make a good impression. And that’s exactly where this new Business English series comes in! In this lesson, you’ll learn how to give your opinion. [...]

source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/american-business-english-for-beginners-5-expressing-your-opinion-in-english/

The joke is on you

Find out more about a seriously funny English phrase.

source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p075991p

Learn Spanish Numbers With Rocket Spanish

Hola everyone! We hope everything is okay with you and you are enjoying the life. In this lesson we are going to learn Spanish numbers with Maurucio the founder and teacher of Rocket Spanish. Now please watch below video and write your comments on the comment section under this post…

How To Learn Spanish Nunmbers

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The Spanish numbers are not difficult to learn. Even when there are some exceptions in the way to form them, their construction follows rules that will allow students to learn them easily.

Here are the Spanish numbers:

• 1 – uno
• 2 – dos
• 3 – tres
• 4 – cuatro
• 5 – cinco
• 6 – seis
• 7 – siete
• 8 – ocho
• 9 – nueve
• 10 – diez
• 11 – once
• 12 – doce
• 13 – trece
• 14 – catorce
• 15 – quince
• 16 – dieciséis
• 17 – diecisiete
• 18 – dieciocho
• 19 – diecinueve
• 20 – veinte
• 21 – veintiuno
• 22 – veintidós
• 23 – veintitrés
• 24 – veinticuatro
• 25 – veinticinco
• 26 – veintiséis
• 27 – veintisiete
• 28 – veintiocho
• 29 – veintinueve
• 30 – treinta
• 31 – treinta y uno
• 32 – treinta y dos
• 33 – treinta y tres
• 40 – cuarenta
• 41 – cuarenta y uno
• 42 – cuarenta y dos
• 50 – cincuenta
• 60 – sesenta
• 70 – setenta
• 80 – ochenta
• 90 – noventa
• 100 – cien
• 101 – ciento uno
• 102 – ciento dos
• 110 – ciento diez
• 111 – ciento once
• 200 – doscientos
• 201 – doscientos uno
• 202 – doscientos dos
• 211 – doscientos once
• 276 – doscientos setenta y seis
• 300 – trescientos
• 400 – cuatrocientos
• 500 – quinientos
• 600 – seiscientos
• 700 – setecientos
• 800 – ochocientos
• 900 – novecientos
• 1.000 – mil
• 1.011 – mil once
• 1.111 – mil ciento once
• 2.000 – dos mil
• 3.000.003 – tres millones tres

Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

So far I’ve only talked about cardinal numbers – one, two, three, etc. It’s also important to learn the ordinal numbers – first, second, third, fourth, etc. Here are the first ten:

English	Español
first	primero
second	segundo
third	tercero
fourth	cuarto
fifth	quinto
sixth	sexto
seventh	séptimo
eighth	octavo
ninth	noveno
tenth	décimo

Ordinal numbers are adjectives that must agree with the noun – although, unlike most Spanish adjectives, they go before the noun, not after:

• el segundo libro = the second book
• la segunda persona = the second person
• los primeros carros = the first cars
• las primeras flores = the first flowers

Note that primero and tercero drop the “o” before a singular masculine noun:

• el primer día = the first day
• el tercer hijo = the third son

In the Rocket Spanish you will learn and speak Spanish fluently. Also you are going to discover how to use Spanish vocabulary with Rocket Spanish course. Join Mauricio Evlampieff as he teaches us some basic greetings and phrases in his native language, Spanish… It is so easy to learn speaking Spanish with us.

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The post Learn Spanish Numbers With Rocket Spanish appeared first on Learn Spanish Speaking.

source https://learnspeakingspanish.com/learn-spanish-numbers

English Grammar Made Easy S2 #54 - Introduction to Email Writing

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source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-grammar-made-easy-s2-54-introduction-to-email-writing/